Carbonating apparatus



Feb. 19, 1957 F. M. IANNELLI CARBONATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June ll, 1954 'Illia Feb. 19, 1957 5 Shets-Shee. 2

Filed June 11, 1954 United States Patent' vO CARBONATING APPARATUS Frank M. Iannelli, East Orange, N. I.

Application June 11, 1954, Serial No. 436,047

6 Claims. (Cl. 261-70) This invention relates to carbonating apparatus and more particularly to new and useful improvements in means for forcing the water or other potable liquid into the mixing chamber and for preconditioning the water or liquid prior to mixing with the carbonating gas.

As city water supply pressures are not ordinarily high enough for efcient carbonating, it has been customary to provide motor driven purping apparatus to force the water or liquid into the carbonating chamber of the carbonating apparatus against the pressure of the carbonating gas. Obviously, such automatic pumping apparatus is bulky and heavy and in operation takes up considerable space and consumes energy so that its relatively high rst cost and operating and maintenance costs are objectionable.

f It is a prime object of the present invention to provide an improved water carbonating apparatus capable of operating successfully without the necessity of such complicated and expensive motor drive pumping apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a water carbonating apparatus in which the supply of carbonat ing gas is used for forcing the water into the carbonating chamber and for preconditioning the water prior lto entering the carbonating chamber as well as for carbonating the water in the chamber.

A further object of the invention is to provide a water carbonating apparatus with means for preconditioning the water or liquid before it enters the carbonating or mixing chamber in order to facilitate carbonization thereof.

Still another object of the invention is'to provide a carbonating apparatus of this kind wherein the mixing chamber is separate from the distributing chamber so that the carbonated water is discharged in a smooth, nonturbulent stream.

Itis a further object of the invention to provide a'water carbonating apparatus, the `essential parts of which are formed of moldablel plastic material. v

It is'further proposed to produce a water carbonating apparatus which is simple, compact and rugged in construction, vhighly efficient in operation and which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description thereof to follow taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure l is a top plan view of a carbonating apparatus made 'in accordance with the present invention, part being shown diagrammatically. v'

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken approximately on the plane of the line 2 2 of Figure l, parts being omitted.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view thereof, parts. being shown broken away.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the plane of the line 44 of Figure 2, parts being shown broken away. t Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the top closure plate: Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the center of the valve device for controlling the entrance of carbonating gas into the water reservoir, parts being shown in elevation.

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings comprises generally-a water or liquid'reservoir or tank connected to ICC a source of water supply and a source of carbon dioxide gas supply, and a distributing tank inside of which is a separate mixing chamber connected to the same source of gas. The water and gas are mixed in the mixing chamber and the carbonated water is delivered to a dispensing faucet from the distributing tank.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, the water or liquid reservoir or tank comprises a cylinder 1 closed at its bottom by a base 2 and being seated in and sealed-by a socket portion 3 formed on the floor of the base, adjacent one end thereof. The base is substantially rectangular in plan with a peripheral flange 4 and Awith rounded ends.

The distributing tank comprises a cylinder 5, similar to cylinder 1 but larger in diameter. The bottom of the cylinder 5 is closed by the base 2 and is seated in and sealed by a socket portion 6 adjacent the socket portion 3. The top of the cylinder 5 is closed by a cover 7, of a shape similar to the shape of the base 2 and is provided with a peripheral ange 8 and a circular opening 9, adjacent one end thereof. The wall of the opening is formed with a shoulder 10. The top of the cylinder seats in and is sealed by a socket portion 11 formed onv the under side of the cover. The top of cylinder 1 ex. tends into the opening 9 in the cover 7 and is closed by a closure and mounting plate 12 which is fastened to the cover by screws 13. A gasket 14 seated on the shoulder 10 seals the juncture between the opening 9 and the closure plate 12. A

The mixing chamber comprises a cylindrical wall 15 arranged inside and separate from the distributing tank cylinder 5. The bottom of cylinder 15 is closed by the floor of the base 2 and is seated in a circular groove 16 formed in the oor of the base. The top of cylinderl 15 is closed by the cover 7 and is seated in a circular groove 17 formed in the roof of the cover.

The parts of the carbonating apparatus thus far described, excepting the screws and gasket 4, are formed of moldable plastic material. A suitable plastic material for this purpose is Tenite which has been found to have the necessary strength and leaves no taste.

The closure plate 12 is formed with a threaded inlet passage 18, over the cylinder 1, and threaded into said .passage is one end of a tubular coupling 19 for supporting an inlet pipe 20 extending into the interior of the cylinder 1. A pipe 21 has one end connected to the other end of the coupling and has its other end connected to a source of water supply. A check Valve 22 is interposed in the pipe 21 to prevent reverse ow of water. Plate 12 is formed with a passage or conduit 23 extending alongl the plate from the end thereof positioned over the mixing chamber v15 inwardly to a point positioned over the cylinder 1, where it terminates in a threaded passage 24` extending at right angles and communicating with the interior of the cylinder 1. A check valve 25 is threaded into the passage 24 and depends into the interior of the cylinder 1 for'connecting an outlet pipe 26 with the passage, the outlet pipe depending into the cylinder 1 with its inlet end positioned near the bottom of the tank. The outer end of the conduit 23 is plugged as indicated at 27. Adjacent its outer end, the conduit 23 communicates with a threaded passage 28 formed in the closure plate 12, the passage being aligned with an opening 29 formed in the cover 7 above the mixing chamber 15. A sealing gasket 30 is interposed between the cover 7 and the closure plate 12 around the opening 29. A short pipe 31 is threaded into the passage 28 and extends through the opening 29 where it is provided with a ball ring 32 for sealing the pipe in the opening. The pipe leads into the interior of the mixing chamber 15 to permit water to fall into the interior of the chamber, in cascading fashion, in order to agitate the water in the chamber.

Cylinder 15 is formedwith` top and bottom openings 33 and 34, respectively, toepermit the-water torow'f'from the chamber to the distributing tank 5.

A dischargepipe 35 in the distributing tankl 5, having its yinlet end` near the `bottom of the tank,leadsftoa-dis pensing -faucet 36. n the cover^7, above the distributing tank, there is supported a conventional relief valve 37 provided with a vent 38 leading to the atmosphere to permit gas or air in the `tank at a pressure in excess of, for example 70 pounds per square inch, to escape while the water flows therein.

In the water reservoir 1, there is operatively arranged an inlet valve 39. This valve includes an elongatedhollow casing or tubular body 40 open at its bottom endand open at its top. A tubular extension 41, of reduced diameter, is formed on the open top end of the casin'g40, providing a shoulder 42 on the casing. The extension is telescoped ina tubular coupling ,member 43 extending through an opening 44 in the closure `plate 12 over the reservoir 1, and clamped to the plate by arnut 45. The coupling member isformed with an `annular ange 46 on its inner end adaptedto seat on the shoulder 42 of `the tubular casing 40. Flange 46 forms a seat for a packing ring 47 around the upper end of the tubular casing 40. Al

gasket 48 is interposed betweenthe nut 45 and .the top ofthe closure plate for sealing the outer end of the opening 44 and with a similar gasket 49 seated on a shoulder 5U formed on the coupling member for sealing the inner end of the opening. A tioat in the -form of a hollow plasticlcylindrcal casing or tube 51, closed at its top and bot-` tom,. is slidably and oatingly supported by the tubular casing 40. This hollow casing 51iis provided with a tubular extension 52 formed integrally with its closed top portion, tthe extension being open at vthe top. `Asleeve member153 is fastened to the inner surface of the tubular extension 52 by welding or otherwise and projects outwardly thereof. Adjacent its top, the hollow casing 40 is` formedwith a plurality of small holes 54 adapted to be closed by the sleeve member 53, when the latter is carried .upwardly along the casing 40 by the iioating casing 51 into contact with the packing ring 47. A headed extension 55 on the bottom end of the tubular casing `40 coacts with a perforated disc 56 tted in the tubular extension 52 of the valve casing to limit the downward movement of the casing.

VA main supply pipe 57 (Figure l) leads to a supply of carbon dioxide (not shown) held confined under pressure, for example, l00 pounds, and to a T-tting 58. A conduit pipe 59 is connected at one end to one side of the T-tting and at its other end opens into the tubular coupling 43 of Y the inlet valve 39 in the reservoir 1, and is connected to the couplingby a-nut 60. A pressure reducing-and regulating valve 61 isv interposed in the pipe 59 adjacent the T-'iitting-for controlling the pressure of gas passing Y therethrough. Another 2-way valve 62 is interposed in pipe 59'adjacent its entrance into the coupling member 43 for controlling theA passage of gas through the holes 54 in the inlet valve 39 in the reservoir 1, and for controlling the passage of air through a vent 63 in the valve 62 leading to the holes 54.

Another conduit pipe 64 having a check valve 64a is connected at one end to the other side of the T-tting 58 and at its other end to an inlet pipe 65 in the mixing chamber15. Pipe 65 extends to the bottom of the chamberthroughand below a plate 66 secured tothe wall of the chamber adjacent its bottom end. The plate is formed with a plurality of holes 67 which serve to separate the gas into a large number of minute streams. A pressure regulating valve 68 isy interposed in the pipe 64l and may be-adjusted for apredetermined pressure in the mixing chamber 15. The spacey above the carbonated water will also contain gas whichA comes into intimate contact with the water, as it falls from the pipe `31.

Provision -s made for regulating the quantity of vwater in the reservoir 1 and comprises electrical apparatus housed inan insulating casing 69 mounted in an opening 70 in the cover 7 above the distributing tank 5, including a pair of elongated electrodes 71 and 72 depending to diierent levels in the tank. .The difference in levels between the bottom of these electrodes controls the operation of the solenoid'A 18 to be described. Conductors 73 and 74 connected to terminal posts 75 and 76, respectively, on the respective electrodes'71 and"72, connect the electrodes ,to;a' Viarwiek switch 77 which controlsa solenoid '78 which in turn controls the operation of the valve 62 in pipe 59. When Vthewater in reservoir 5 falls below the level of the lower end of electrode 72, the solenoid 78 is energized to operate the valve 62 to permit gas pressure, at for example 100 poundsl pressure per square inch, toow into the reservoir, as. hereinafter described.

'In operation during initial fillingof Athere'servoir 1, the.v gas pressure is turned olf, the air vent.63 is openand the' float valve casing `51 is normally ,in downward `position leaving the holes 54 Ain valve 39 uncovered. Water is then allowed toow from the Vwater supply through the supply pipe 21, which is provided with the check valve22 tol prevent reverse flow, and through the inlet pipe 20 into the reservoir 1untilthe .float valve casing 51 is The ,water willthen continue to pass from the reservoir 1 under itsown pressure through pipe 26, check valve 25,

passages 23 and 31 into Athe mixing chamber 15 and thence through'holes 34 into the tank 5,4 until the water level reaches therupper electrode 7 1. The electrical circuitincluding the solenoid 78 andthe liquid level controltapparatus comprising `the electrodes 71 and 72 and Warwick switch 7,7, is thenplugged in, the solenoid 78 is deenergized, the gas inlet of valve 62 is closed and-i the air vent63 is` opened. If the water pressure in thesupply pipe should be so low that the waterf level in tank,` 5 does not reach the upper electrode, the solenoidv becomes ener g-ized when the circuit is plugged in', the gas inlet of valve 62 is open and vent 63 is closed; and when the gas is turned on, gas will enter the reservoir 1 at,.for example, 100,pounds pressure, so as to force more water into the tank 5 until the water level reaches Ythe upper electrode 71 whereupon the solenoid is deenergized. ,The gas is turned on but gas will enter only the tank 5 and the mixingchamber, through conduit pipe 64 and inlet pipe 65 forcar bonating the water, because the vent 63 is maintained open, due to the deenergization of the solenoid of valve 62- as vtheresult` of the contact of the water with the upper electrode 71, andthe .closed gas inlet of valve 62prevents passage ofgas pressure into the reservoir from .pipe v59.

When carbonated :water is drawn from the tank 5 through' thepipe 3S :and faucet 36, and the water `level drops below the lower electrode 72, the solenoid 78 will be energized1soi as to actuate the valve 62 to shut oifthe vent 63 and to open the passage through the valve .from

the gas supply: pipe 59 to the tioat valve 39. The gas pressure will force the oat 51-downwardly against the buoyancy of .the water in the tank so as to move the upper end of the sleeve53 out of contact with the gasket 47 and permit gas pressure to enter the tank throughthe openings 5.4, it being remembered that at the same time the water will flow from the tank 1 through the pipe 26 into the tank 51sotastourelievethe eiect of the water on the float and permit the oat to completely open the holes 54 without back pressure on the float. When suicient water has passed from the Areservoir 1 to the tank 5 to reach the upper electrode-71 the'solenoid will be deenergized and the valve $62 will be Iactuated immediately to shutot the gas-pressure from the -tank 1 and simultaneously open the vent 63 so as to allow trapped gas in the tank 1 to escape through the holes 54 and vent 63 and 'permit the `reservoir to be relledwitnwater from `pipe 21 until the tloat 'sleeveA $3 is again forced against the packing ring 47 to shut oit further venting or escape of air. The apparatus is then ready for the next withdrawal of water from the tank 5 through the faucet 36.

It will be noted that the pressure of the gas on the water will cause the water to flow from the pipe 31 into the mixing chamber in a cascade fashion in order to agitato the water in the mixing chamber where it is discharged through the opning 33 and 34 in the cylinder into distributing tank 5. The carbon dioxide gas from the supply pipe 64 enters the mixing chamber 15 under pressure through the inlet pipe 65 and up through the holes 67 in plate 66 for carbonating the turbulent water in lthe mixing chamber. By adjusting the valve 68 in pipe 64, the pressure of the gas from the main supply pipe 57 may be reduced to any desired pressure, for example, sixty pounds, which is desirably less than the pressure of the gas in pipe 59 supplying gas for the reservoir 1.

When the level of the water in the distributing tank 5 reaches electrode 71, the solenoid 78 becomes deenergized and operates the valve 62 to cut olf the gas supply and at the same time vent the reservoir 1 to the atmosphere and thereby permit water to enter the reservoir 1 from the supply pipe 21.

When it is desired to use carbonated water the faucet 36 is opened and carbonated water will be delivered therefrom under pressure of the gas in the distributing tank 5. When the level of the liquid in the tank 5 drops below the bottom end of the electrode 72, the solenoid 78 becomes energized to operate the valve 62 so as to permit gas to flow into the reservoir 1 and force the water from the reservoir l into the distributing tank 5.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that changes in details of contruction might be made without departing from the principle of the invention, and I desire to be limited only by the state of the prior art and the appended claims.

What l claim is:

1. A carbonating apparatus comprising a reservoir having an inlet with a check valve for liquid under pressure from a supply of liquid to be carbonated, means including a control valve for controlling ow of gas under pressure into said reservoir and for venting of gas from said reservoir to the atmosphere, alternately, a closed liquid distributing tank, means for establishing communication between said reservoir and said tank including an outlet pipe in the reservoir, a check valve in said outlet pipe and an inlet passage in said tank adjacent the top thereof above the liquid level therein communicating with said outlet pipe at the discharge side of said check valve whereby the liquid from said reservoir may ow through said outlet pipe and said inlet passage into the tank, a gas inlet pipe for the tank to communicate with a source of carbon dioxide gas for admitting gas to the tank adjacent the bottom thereof to carbonate the liquid therein, a discharge pipe for the tank with its entrance end adjacent the bottom of the tank, means providing a supply of carbon dioxide gas to the reservoir through the first named means under pressure substantially greater than the pressure of the liquid supply to force the liquid in the reservoir from the reservoir into the tank, means providing a constant supply of carbon dioxide to said gas inlet pipe that leads to said tank at a pressure substantially less than the gas pressure supplied to said reservoir, and valve means for relieving gas pressure in said tank in excess of a predetermined maximum pressure.

2. A carb'onating apparatus as defined in claim 1 with the addition of means for causing actuation of said control valve to permit flow of carbon dioxide gas into said reservoir when the carbonated liquid in said tank reaches a predetermined low level and thereby force liquid from said reservoir into said tank and to cut otf carbon dioxide from sia-id reservoir and simultaneously vent ga-s from 6 said reservoir when the carbonated liquid in said tank reaches a predetermined high level and thereby admit liquid to be carbonated into the reservoir.

3. A carbonating apparatus as defined in claim l with the addition of a wall within said tank providing a separate mixing chamber into which extends said gas inlet pipe and having openings at its lower end communicating with the interior of the tank.

4. A carbonating apparatus as dened in claim l with the addition of a Wall within said tank providing a separate mixing chamber into which extends said gas inlet pipe and having openings at its lower end communicating with the in-terior of the tank, and wherein said inlet passage leads into the upper end of said mixing chamber above the level of the liquid therein, and said inlet pipe for carbon dioxide gas has its outlet end opening into the lower end of said mixing chamber.

5. A carbonating apparatus as defined in claim l wherein said reservoir has a common inlet port and vent for Vgas under pressure, the control valve of the rst named means communicates with said port to vent said :reservoir `and radmit carbon dioxide into the reservoir, alternately, and with the addition of other valve means associated with said common inlet port and vent between said control Valve and said reservoir, and a float connected to said other valve means in said reservoir so that said float is actuated upwardly by liquid in said reservoir to actuate said other valve means to close said inlet port against the escape of gas from said reservoir when the liquid level in the reservoir reaches a predetermined point, thereby to prevent further rise of the liquid level in the reservoir, and gas under pressure entering said common inlet port and vent from said control valve forces said oat downwardly against the influence on said iloat of said liquid in the reservoir to open said common inlet port and vent and thereby permit inflow of gas under pressure through said control valve and said common inlet port and vent into said reservoir.

6. A carbonating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said reservoir has a common inlet port and vents for gas under pressure, the control valve of the lrstnamed means communicates with said port to vent said reservoir and admit carbon dioxide gas into the reservoir, alternately, and with the addition of other valve means associated with said common inlet port and vent and a float connected to said other valve means in said reservoir, `said float being actua-ted by liquid in said reservoir to close said common inlet port and vent against the escape of gas from said reservoir when the liquid level in the reservoir reaches `a predeterminedl point thereby to prevent further rise of 4the liquid level in the reservoir, and said oat and other valve means being actuated by gas under pressure that enters said common inlet port and vent from said control valve of the rst-named means to open said common inlet port and vent and thereby permit inflow of gas under pressure into said reservoir, and means for causing actuation of said control valve to permit tlow of carbon dioxide gas through said common inlet port and vent into said reservoir when the carbonated liquid in said tank reaches a predetermined low level and thereby force liquid from said reservoir into said tank, and to cut olf carbon dioxide gas from said common inlet port and vent and simultaneously vent gas from said reservoir through said common inlet port and Vent when Ithe carbonated liquid in said tank reaches a predetermined high level and thereby admit liquid to be carbonated into the reservoir.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,434,574 Walter et al. Nov. 7, 1922 2,081,029' Young May 18, 1937 2,172,420 Tweed Sept. 12, 1939 .2,314,984 Hudson Mar. 30, 1943 2,391,003 Bowman Dec. 18, 1945 

